The examination of the computers and devices seized on Friday by local law enforcers from a technology blogger that got his hands on an unreleased iPhone prototype has been put on hold while authorities discuss if the operation conflicted with California’s shield law.

San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said attorneys with tech blog Gizmodo recently asked San Mateo prosecutors to consider how the raid on Gizmodo editor Jason Chen’s home and the seizure of several items – including laptops, digital cameras, flash drives, a credit card and credit card bills – might conflict with the state’s shield law, which protects journalists from sharing unpublished, work-related material.

“The computers are not being examined to make sure we don’t invade anybody’s privacy,” Wagstaffe said.

He added that his office is studying the situation and is expected to send a legal memo this week to the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team, the state high-tech crimes task force that served the search warrant, with its recommendations on the matter.

Chen’s property is currently in REACT’s hands, which will have the final call on whether they inspect Chen’s computers or return them, Wagstaffe said.

At the heart of the matter is the question of whether law enforcers overstepped their authority by seizing Chen’s belongings or if the shield law’s protections evaporated when Gizmodo agreed to purchase an item reported as stolen property.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized the search warrant for not specifying if Chen was being considered a criminal suspect or the particular crime being investigated. It called the warrant’s language “plainly overbroad” and added it should have never been issued in the first place, since state and federal law protect journalists from government searches and seizures.

Gizmodo had already returned the phone to Apple, but Wagstaffe said the case continued to be investigated as possible property theft felony because Apple had previously reported the device as missing.

One reason for an expanded investigation is obvious: law enforcement wants to learn who found the so-called 4G prototype and offered it for sale. California law makes it a crime for someone to find lost property but not return it.

Felony charges may follow the investigation if authorities proceed with the examination of Chen’s devices. It remains unclear exactly who would be charged if that happens.